174. Editorial Note
Under Secretary of State George W. Ball visited Europe November 9-20, 1963, to discuss foreign economic subjects with European leaders. He was in Paris November 9-10, Bonn November 10-13, London November 13-15, and Paris November 15-20. His meetings with British, French, and West German Foreign and Finance Ministers included consultations on foreign assistance and international development. Documentation on these talks is in Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 65 D 533, CF 2338-2339.
Ball’s bilateral discussions were preliminary to the meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which was held in Paris November 19-20, 1963. Ball headed the U.S. Delegation, and Ambassador John Leddy served as Alternate Head. Among other matters, the Ministers discussed the importance of maintaining foreign assistance at a high level to meet the increasing needs of developing countries and stressed the coordination of such aid to make it more effective. The Ministers also discussed preparations for the upcoming U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Documentation on U.S. preparations for the UNCTAD conference is scheduled for publication in volume XXV. A summary of this OECD meeting is in Current Economic Developments, Issue No. 689, November 26, 1963, pages 9-13. (Washington National Records Center, E/CBA/REP Files: FRC 72 A 6248, Current Economic Developments) For text of the communique, November 20, see Department of State Bulletin, December 16, 1963, pages 948-949. Documentation on U.S. participation in this Ministerial Meeting is in Department of State, Conference Files: Lot 65 D 533, CF 2340-2340A.